Prior to this study, the general feeling was that once a neuron or nerve cell was damaged there was no way it could be repaired. While these studies involved mice, the findings have led to ongoing tests in China involving humans to see if EGCG can slow the progression of the disease. Many aspects in the mouse brain mimic ones found in humans. We would strongly suggest not waiting for the results from the establised medical to start but for you to including two to four cups of green tea in your current regimen. We have previously written about its protective effects when it comes to cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes. Knowing that it might be the first natural substance to both prevent destruction and restore neuron function in the brain should be an incentive to start drinking green tea now.

Here's a superior new phytoestrogen product called PhytoEstrogen Ultra VitaCost Supplements . Each two soft gels contain 750 mg of borage seed oil, 600 mg of evening primrose oil and 150 mg of Novasoy, standardized to 40% isoflavones. Novasoy is the finest quality standardized isoflavone extract from ADM (Archer Daniels Midland Company) with high levels of genistein. The 60 mg of elemental isoflavones this product provides is considered the most effective level based on clinical studies. There are also numerous studies that prove the wide ranging benefits of gamma linolenic acid (GLA) both borage oil and evening primrose oil provide. These include healthy skin, joints, immune function and many other health benefits. This comprehensive product also contains standardized wild yam extract, organic flax seed oil, black cohosh and dong quai. Dong quai has been shown to help balance estrogen levels, whereas wild yam extract may help balance natural progesterone levels to promote enhanced mood. I have seen a lot of phytoestrogen products on the market, but none this complete. Sixty soft gels cost less than $14.

If you can get to an emergency room, that’s probably the best option but this is assuming a doctor will see you in time and assuming they know what to do. You can easily perform the same procedure a doctor would perform with no difficulty.

To move the foreign material that’s blocking the retinal artery, you need to rapidly increase the blood pressure flowing through the retina. The easiest way to do this is to firmly press your fingertips over the closed eye until you feel pain, then quickly release the pressure. As you apply pressure to the eye, the fluid within the eye collapses the retinal blood vessels, building up blood pressure. Upon release, the blood quickly surges through the small arteries and will dislodge the clot. It should then move further downstream into a narrower artery—improving the chances that only a smaller part of the retina will be harmed.

This technique generally restores almost all the lost vision immediately—and will be the same procedure utilized if you’re seen in the emergency room. (Lancet 07;370(9587):590) The event is an indication that there is an active clotting problem, so you should follow up with the use of the natural clot buster nattokinase, and taking the other necessary steps to reduce the formation of atherosclerosis throughout the body.

Alzheimer’s disease is increasing at an alarming rate. Fluoride has been shown to enhance the bioavailability of aluminum. In simple terms, drinking fluoridated water allows more aluminum to be absorbed and cross the blood-brain barrier when it is deposited in the brain. The combination of fluoride and aluminum has been shown to cause the same changes in brain tissue found in Alzheimer’s patients. With floride everwhere it's time to beef up the niacin! There is obviously a very strong connection to a lack of niacin and the dreaded Alzheimer’s disease and you just can't get rid of the floride completely unfortunately.

According to a recent report, resveratrol demonstrated a protective effect against Huntington’s disease in animal models. Huntington’s is a genetic disease associated with impaired motor skills and reduced mental abilities. Additionally, grape seed extract appears to protect rat brain cells and maintain the overall viability of the nervous system. Grape seed exerts these effects by modulating proteins implicated in cognitive disorders.

Resveratrol may offer benefits in preventing or managing conditions associated with high blood sugar, such as metabolic syndrome or diabetes. Sirtris Pharmaceuticals, a company founded by Dr. David Sinclair, leader of the Harvard resveratrol study, is conducting a clinical trial to evaluate resveratrol’s effects in controlling blood sugar in patients with diabetes.

Impaired circulation and “mini-strokes” (transient ischemic attacks, or TIAs) can themselves cause dementia… or make Alz­heimer’s worse. So the same strategies that are good for the cardiovascular system may help prevent memory loss and other aspects of dementia.

• Consider daily aspirin therapy. Taking one low-dose aspirin daily has been shown to cut risk for stroke as well as heart attack. There is some evidence it may also lower the risk for Alzheimer’s. However, use caution since the long-term use of aspirin can cause stomach irritation and severe intestinal bleed­ing. Consult your doctor before beginning aspirin therapy.

• Exercise regularly Aerobic exercise boosts cardiac health and helps ease depression, which can impair thinking and memory.

• Keep your blood pressure in check. Eat a low-fat diet and lose weight. High blood pressure raises risk for stroke and heart disease and in some recent studies linked it to Alzheimer’s, too.

Ginkgo Biloba And Other Supplements

Preliminary evidence suggests that ginkgo can improve memory by increasing blood circulation. Healthy older people who take the herb do seem to perform mental tasks more quickly, some studies show. There is no indication that ginkgo can help prevent the illness. Alzheimer’s patients show little improvement however other supplements have been shown to help greatly. Some of these are Acetyl L-Carnitine, Alpha Lipoic Acid, L-Carnitine, CoQ10, Omega-3 EPA & DHA, BioVinca Vinpocetine, Phosphatidylserine.. Ask your doctor if ginkgo makes sense for you.
Caution: Ginkgo may interact with other medications, such as the blood thinner war-farm (Coumadin).

Prevent Head Injurys

We now know that sustaining a severe head injury doubles the risk of developing Alzhei­mer’s later in life. The risk associated with mild injury-a slight concussion, for instance may be significant as well, although this remains unproven. So, always wear your seat belt. If you ski, bicycle, roller-skate, ride horseback or participate in any other sport that can lead to a head injury, always wear a helmet.

Use Anti-Inflanunatory Drugs Cautiously

Incidence of Alzheimer’s disease is surpris­ingly low among longtime users of nonster­oidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID5), such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, etc.) and naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn). Researchers theorize that NSAIDs reduce brain inflammation, which is thought to play a key role in the development of Alzheimer’s. Unfortunately, side effects-including ulcers, kidney damage and internal bleeding can occur with long-term NSAID use and they are more common among older people.

The Big Brain – Use It or Else

Working at a mentally challenging job in your 30s, 40s and 50s reduces the likelihood that you’ll develop Alzheimer’s after age 60, according to a recent study. The theory is that mental activity pro-motes new links between brain cells, creating a reserve of brain-power. People with such a reserve have “more to lose” before symptoms of Alz­heimer’s become apparent. Other research suggests that older people continue to make similar neuronal connections when they seek out intellectual stimulation. Regardless of your age, remember that an active mind is a healthier mind. Read provoca­tive books-and talk about them with friends, study a foreign language, enhance your computer skills, pick up a hobby or learn to play a musical instrument.

[tags]Alzheimer's, Ginkgo biloba [/tags]

We all suffer some decline in mental functions as we grow older. After age 60, most of us find it harder to remember names, appointments, etc. This kind of forgetfulness differs greatly from what happens with dementia. People with dementia lose the ability to recognize familiar faces. They may ask the same question repeatedly during a five-minute conversation. Ultimately, they become unable to stand or even swallow. Two out of three cases of dementia are caused by Alzheimer’s. The risk of developing Alzheimer's rises with age. Roughly 8% of people over age 65 have it, as do nearly 30% of those over age 85.

What Causes Alzheimer's?

Many people seem to believe that exposure to aluminum or zinc raises one's risk for Alzheimer's. To date, no dietary factors have been identified as causative. So far, only three factors have been identified in most cases.

• Head injury. There's now compelling evidence that sustaining a concussion or another head injury raises the risk for Alzheimer's later on. Concussions seem to be a real cause. Always wear a helmet when playing football, biking or horseback riding and use your seat belt in cars.

• Heredity. Some unlucky people carry a gene that all but guarantees they'll develop Alzheimer's. More commonly, people carry genes that predispose them to the disease. Since we lack effective strategies for preventing Alzheimer's, finding out that you have a predisposition does not help you avoid it.

• Education. Some studies have found that well-educated people are less likely to get Alzheimer's disease. But other studies have shown no such link.

Can Alzheimer's Be Prevented?

Unfortunately there’s still no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, the fatal neurological disorder that affects four million Americans. But new medications offer partial relief from Alzheimer’s symptoms and each year we are learning more about how to prevent the disease some strategies look very promising.

• Hormone replacement therapy has been shown to be very beneficial. The physical decline associated with aging is caused by the falling levels of estrogen, testosterone, human growth hormone (hGH) and other key hormones. Via hormone therapy, it's possible to raise these hormones to their youthful levels. In some studies, post-menopausal women who took estrogen experienced a 10% to 50% reduction in their risk for Alzheimer’s. Women should take this into account when considering hormone replacement therapy.

• Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) boosts the sex drive and strengthens bones, in men and women alike. But TRT is suspected of raising the risk for prostate enlargement and prostate cancer.

• Human growth hormone therapy can smooth wrinkles, strengthen a weak libido and reverse a low muscle-to-fat ratio. Unfortunately, hGH has been implicated as a cause of carpal tunnel syndrome and arthritis.

• Melatonin therapy has been shown to extend the life span of mice by up to 25%. Melatonin lowers LDL cholesterol levels and shows promise as a treatment for diabetes, cataracts and Alzheimer's disease.

• DHEA therapy boosts immune function and seems to fight cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes and osteoporosis.

Other promising treatments include vtamin supplements. High dosages of vitamin E—2,000 international units (IU) per day—have been shown to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s. Those who are starting to notice suspicious symptoms should ask a doctor about beginning vitamin F therapy.

So far, only two medications have received FDA approval for the treatment of Alzheimer's-tacrine (Cognex) and donepezil (Aricept). These cholinesterase inhibitors improve cognitive ability and memory by boosting levels of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Unfortunately, the benefits are short-lived. After a year of treatment, the drugs can start to lose their effectiveness.

• Psychotropic drugs. Because of the brain damage caused by the disease, one-quarter of Alzheimer’s patients become depressed, one-third experience hallucinations and/or delusions and 15% experience extreme anxiety. Antidepressants, antipsychotics and antianxiety drugs cannot reverse Alzheimer’s disease. But they can be extremely effective at controlling the emotional problems that go along with it.